Gary Parrish

John Calipari spent the weekend in Memphis.

With Chris Douglas-Roberts.

And Derrick Rose.

And Joey Dorsey.

And this sure does feel like 2008 again, doesn't it?

"It was really neat," Calipari said by phone late Saturday night. "Everybody had a great time."

Calipari flew to Memphis to celebrate the graduation of four former players -- Antonio Anderson, Robert Dozier, Shawn Taggart and Chance McGrady -- by throwing a party at his home that also lured Douglas-Roberts, Rose and Dorsey (all of whom are now in the NBA) back to the city in which they played college basketball. Calipari did not attend Saturday's graduation ceremony because he had no interest in creating a scene, particularly a possible unpleasant one. But he said he still wanted to provide a presence for the players he recruited to Memphis, so Calipari came home, organized a cookout and invited all sorts of people with UofM ties -- from academic advisors to trainers to new Memphis coach Josh Pastner.

By all accounts, it was good for everybody involved.

Lots of old friends together for a day, even if they will go their own way again soon.

Calipari will head back to Kentucky.

Douglas-Roberts to New Jersey.

Rose to Chicago.

Dorsey to Houston ... although he plans to return next year.

"You should've seen Joey," Calipari said. "He watched those guys graduate, and he said, 'I want to do that.' So he said he's going to finish up (school) and walk next year."

If so, party at Cal's.